The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has issued a firm deadline to clubs participating in the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. All fourteen franchises must confirm the details of their chosen home venues by 12 noon on Monday, January 12, 2026. This crucial step will allow the federation to accelerate work on the final schedule for the delayed season, which is now confirmed to kick off on February 14, 2026.
League Gets Green Light After Commercial Hurdle
The path for the new season was cleared earlier this week when Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made the official announcement. The ISL, which had been on an indefinite pause due to the absence of a commercial partner, will now proceed with the participation of all fourteen clubs. The top-tier league is slated to feature a full 91 matches played on a home-and-away basis, contingent on all clubs fulfilling their commitments.
In a formal communication to the clubs, the AIFF expressed gratitude for their in-principle agreement to take part. The letter, signed by AIFF Deputy General Secretary M Satyanarayan, outlined the federation's proposal to organize the 2025-26 ISL season through cooperative efforts with the participating teams. The urgent request for venue confirmation is directly linked to securing broadcast and commercial rights partners, as well as drafting the match fixtures.
Next Steps and Financial Framework
Upon receiving the venue details and the necessary participation deposit from the clubs, the AIFF has outlined a clear action plan. The federation will promptly share several key documents with the clubs, including the draft governance framework for the ISL and the draft Request for Proposals (RFPs) to appoint broadcast and commercial partners for the season.
Concurrently, the AIFF will begin liaising with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to seek necessary exemptions, particularly concerning slots for the AFC Champions League 2. Work on the detailed fixture list and other operational matters will also commence immediately, followed by the preparation of formal participation agreements for each club.
The AIFF has also committed to coordinating with local authorities at the various venues to ensure the smooth organization of the league's matches.
Budget and Club Contributions
The financial blueprint for the season has been detailed by the AIFF. The total proposed budget for the 2025-26 ISL season is INR 24,26,74,000 (Twenty-Four Crores Twenty-Six Lakhs Seventy-Four Thousand). The federation will make an initial contribution of INR 9,77,40,000, while each participating club is required to contribute INR 1,00,00,000 (One Crore) as a participation fee.
In a gesture of flexibility, the AIFF has previously stated its willingness to allow clubs to pay this fee in instalments, extending up to June 2026, if they are unable to make the payment immediately. The federation has reassured clubs that it is taking all necessary parallel steps to implement the league's revival in both letter and spirit.
With the Monday noon deadline looming, clubs are now in a race against time to finalize and communicate their home ground arrangements, setting the stage for what promises to be a tightly scheduled return of India's premier football competition.
